mobbs



NITED STATES PATENT LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,165, dated March 27, 1894.

Application filed November 22, 1893. Serial No. 491,662- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HARRY WILLIAM MoBBs and ALFRED LEwIs,both of Kettering, in the county of Northampton,-England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Boot orShoe Lasts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that form of divided last the subject matter of Letters Patent of the United States of America, granted to us the 16th day of February, 1886, No. 336,339, and the object of the present invention is the adaptation, in a simple and economical manner, of the principle therein enunciated, to wooden lasts. The locking device described in the said specification, to secure the parts of the divided last together, consisted of a recess cast in the heel piece, and a movable bolt or catch on the same part, and of a hooked portion, and a recess cast on the foot portion, to enter and receive the respective parts on the heel piece. We still retain these parts, and our present invention consists in the method whereby we adapt such parts to the two portions of the divided wooden last, so as to obtain strength and rigidity, combined with economy of construction.

In carrying out ourinvention, we make the locking device in two parts, as before, each part with a cylindrical stem (preferably hollow, for lightness), which we insert in holes in the respective parts of the last, and secure by screws or otherwise. And in order that our invention may be clearly understood, we will now proceed to more fully describe it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of our improved wooden last- Fig. 2 is a rear View of the foot portion; and Fig. 3 is a front view of the heel portion. Fig. 4 shows the parts of the locking device separated, with the parts of the last indicated by dotted lines; and Fig. 5 shows the key used to unlock the parts, the key being shown in position in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

A A is an ordinary wooden last, made slightly longer (say, the width of a saw-cut) than the proper size for any particular number, and from the heel end we bore a hole 00, of small diameter, projecting forward well into the foot, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. We then, by a transverse saw cut, divide the last into two parts, which we will designate the foot part A and the heel part A. The saw entering at the point X on the upper edge of the last, passes out at the point Z in the waist, or vice versa, thus dividing the last by a diagonal cut, as shown at Fig. 4. The object of this diagonal cut is to facilitate the withdrawal from the boot or shoe being made, .of the foot part A, when unlocked. We next take the part A, and form a groove B in the rear face, from the hole upward to the top, for a purpose to be presently explained, and, taking the hole 00 as a guide, we enlarge the hole to receive the stem of one part of the locking device. We then take the part A, and, with the holea; therein as a guide for the tool (which will be suitably made for the purpose), we enlarge the hole, and turn out, in addition, from the part, an enlarged and concentric portion to receive the corresponding parts of the locking device. The two parts of the wooden last are thus prepared with perfect accuracy to receive the two parts of the locking device.

The locking device, as before explained, consists of two parts 0 O,which are intended to interlock,--the part 0 being attached to the part A of the last, and the part 0 to the part A. The part 0 consists of a cylindrical or tubular stem, ahooked portion D, a recess D, and a lug or lugs D by which the part 0 is firmly secured to the last, by screws or otherwise. The face a of the hooked part D, and the back I) of the lug D should be in the same line, and correspond with the diagonal face of the part A. The part 0 consists of a cylindrical or tubular stem, and a cylindrical and concentric boss E, the face of which is inclined to the same inclination as the diagonal cut of the part A. The face of this boss E is in two different planes, as shown, and the lower portion fits against the face a of the part 0, while the upper portion allows room for the lugs D The boss E has, in the lower half, a recess 0, to receive the hook D. In the tubular stem is fitted a spring bolt F, which,

when the parts 0 C are brought into conjunction, will take into the recess D, thus locking the two parts together.

We prefer to use the spring bolt incased within the tubular stem, as being convenient and efficient, but it will be obvious that any other form of spring catch may be used,such, for instance, as that described in the specification of our former patent, without departing from the nature of our invention.

The parts 0 0' (when cast, and after cleaning,) are accurately fitted and locked together, and are then placed in alathe, that they may be turned perfectly true, and of the proper diameters to fit into the respective recesses made in the parts A A to receive them.

When theparts of the last and the locking device are all properly fitted, the hole w in the back of the heel piece A is closed by a plug A, and the last is finished off. The

parts are separated by means of the key, which is inserted in the groove B of the part A, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the point will push back the bolt or catch F clear of the recess D, the bottom of the groove acting as the fulcrum. The strain of the upper leather on the part A of the last, as well as the pressure of the key, will cause this partto rideu p the face of the part A sufficiently to prevent the bolt springing back into the recess, and the partAcan then be withdrawn with facility. The inclined faces will also facilitate the insertion of the last in the boot, the heel piece being first introduced. The last, if desired, may be provided with a post hole and an instep block, as usual.

It will be obvious that the diagonal cut may be made in the reverse direction, as indicated :said pieces A A being formed with inclined faces, and provided each with a part, 0 and in the specification of our former patent above referred to, without departing from the nature of our present invention.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The method, as herein shown and described, of adapting an interlocking locking device to the parts of a divided wooden last, and consisting in boring a hole of small diameter horizontally of the last, from the heel forward, dividing the last by a diagonal out; then, taking the hole in each part as aguide, enlarging the same to one or more diameters, fitting therein the parts of the locking device, each provided with a cylindrical stem, and securing the same to the last; and finally plugging the hole in theheel, and finishing ofi the last, as set forth.

2. Aboot last of wood constructed substantially as shown and described, that is to say, with a foot piece A and a heel piece'A', the

.0, of a locking device, the part 0 having a jhooke d' portion D and a recess D and a reariwardly extending stem, and the part 0' a reicess c, to receive the hooked portion D, and {a spring catch F, to enter the recess D, and [a rearwardly extending stem, the said stems lfitting into suitablerecesses made to receive itheni in the parts A A, as set forth.

HARRY W. MOBBS.

ALFRED LEWIS.

Witnesses:

A. M. TROUP, W. E. RICKERD, 1 Clarke to A. E. Phipps, Solicitor and Notary,

Northampton. 

